title: delta-Opioid receptor antagonism induces NMDA receptor-dependent excitotoxicity in anoxic turtle cortex.
abstract: delta-Opioid receptor (DOR) activation is neuroprotective against short-term anoxic insults in the mammalian brain. This protection may be conferred by inhibition of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs), whose over-activation during anoxia otherwise leads to a deleterious accumulation of cytosolic calcium ([Ca(2+)](c)), severe membrane potential (E(m)) depolarization and excitotoxic cell death (ECD). Conversely, NMDAR activity is decreased by approximately 50% with anoxia in the cortex of the painted turtle, and large elevations in [Ca(2+)](c), severe E(m) depolarization and ECD are avoided. DORs are expressed in high quantity throughout the turtle brain relative to the mammalian brain; however, the role of DORs in anoxic NMDAR regulation has not been investigated in turtles. We examined the effect of DOR blockade with naltrindole (1-10 micromol l(-1)) on E(m), NMDAR activity and [Ca(2+)](c) homeostasis in turtle cortical neurons during normoxia and the transition to anoxia. Naltrindole potentiated normoxic NMDAR currents by 78+/-5% and increased [Ca(2+)](c) by 13+/-4%. Anoxic neurons treated with naltrindole were strongly depolarized, NMDAR currents were potentiated by 70+/-15%, and [Ca(2+)](c) increased 5-fold compared with anoxic controls. Following naltrindole washout, E(m) remained depolarized and [Ca(2+)](c) became further elevated in all neurons. The naltrindole-mediated depolarization and increased [Ca(2+)](c) were prevented by NMDAR antagonism or by perfusion of the G(i) protein agonist mastoparan-7, which also reversed the naltrindole-mediated potentiation of NMDAR currents. Together, these data suggest that DORs mediate NMDAR activity in a G(i)-dependent manner and prevent deleterious NMDAR-mediated [Ca(2+)](c) influx during anoxic insults in the turtle cortex.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Neuroscience, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Pamenter
authors.forename: Leslie T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Buck
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D004594:Electrophysiology; D006706:Homeostasis; D002534:Hypoxia, Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D017465:Receptors, Opioid, delta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D014426:Turtles / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C084070:Mas7 protein, synthetic; D009498:Neurotoxins; D010455:Peptides; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D017465:Receptors, Opioid, delta; D009271:Naltrexone; C055382:naltrindole; D002118:Calcium